Phonograph



. July 2.2, 1930. A Ar, JOHNSON d1,771,087

A PHoNoGRAPH Filed sept. 23. 192e v '2 sheets-sheet 1 INVEN TOR.

July 22, 1930. A.. A. .YJoHNsoN Paonosmra Filed sept. 23. '1926,

2 Sheets-Shen 2 Patentedl July' 22, 1930 muri-:D STATES PATENT-v' OFFICE ARTHUR A. JOHNSON, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO DICTAPHONE COR- PORATION, 0.11 BBIDGEPORT,

CONNEC'JZICUT, A CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK PHONOGRAPH l Application led September 23, 1926. Serial No. 137,234.

This invention relates to phonographs, and more particularly to means for electrically recording and reproducing sounds.

Heretofore, phonographs have been provided with velectrically operated .recording and/or reproducing means in which a stylus was operated by or operated an armature located in a magnetic field. In the telephone art, some of the most eiicient sound reproducers, such as loud-speakers for radio use, have comprised a pivoted armature operating in the field of a large permanent magnet, and a coil or other suitable induction means for acting upon the pivoted armature to produce oscillations in the said field.

Now, it has been found that for phonograph recording and/or reproducing, the type of translating unit best suited for the purpose is one using a large magnetic field with a pivoted armature and induction means operated by voice currents for controlling the armature.

However, a use of the large permanent magnet on a phonograph was not heretofore particularly satisfactory, due to the excessive weight which it added to the'sound-box or the sound-box carriage. Moreover, theA use'v I of the large magnet on the phonograph made the machine cumbersome in appearance, and, of course added to the cost of the machine.

The vpresent invention, however, avoids all these disadvantages and yet permits the use of the large magnetic field piece on the phonograph with its advantageous features. This is accomplished by the present invention by combining the carriage and the field piece into one member, that is, by making the carriage itself of material which stores magnetism, such as iron-preferably Swedish iron,-and by doing so, no appreciable amount of weight is added to the carriage. l

Another feature of the invention is the provision of means whereby `the operating parts of the translating device, namely the armature, stylus and stylus mounting, and in some cases the pole-pieces also, may -be removed as a unit from the carriage for the purpose of facilitating repairing and cleaning of these operating parts. This feature of the present invention is extremely advantageous when used in connection with a phonograph in which the carriage is formed of magnetic material, for otherwise it would be necessary to remove the entire carriage to make an adjustment or replacement of parts'. However, it is also advantageous when used with the types of recorders or reproducers where the magnetic eld is provided by magnets other than the body of the carriage, for even inthose cases the field-pieces might thus be left intact on the carriage while the pole-pieces and the operating mechanism are removed.l

A further feature of this invention is the provision of an automatically separable electrical connection between the operating part of a translating unit which is removably mounted on a carriage and the phonograph carriage itself, which automatically completes the electrical connections between the translating unit and the feed wires by the mere operation of placing the translating unit on -the carriage. This is extremely advantageous, for it is thus unnecessary to connect or. disconnect any ofthe wires leading to the unit when it is desired to attach or remove the unit from the carriage.

A still further feature of the invention is the provision of lmeans for directing and guiding the wires on the-carriage which lead to the translating unit to a point beyond the range of the phonograph structure before theyare allowed to'freely hang. According to the preseit invention, this isaccomplished by providing al conduit on the side of the carriage and causing the conduit to extend out over the back of the phonograph, from which point the conductors lead down to the place where they are connected.

A further feature of the invention is the provisiQn of an improved translating unit for an electrically operated phonograph, and particularly to improved means for damping vibrations of the armature and stylus.

And a still further feature of the present invention is the provision of interchangeable electrical recorders and reproducers `for use on a phonograph.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

Irthe accompanying drawings, which show the form of the present invention which is at present preferred- Figure 1 is a sectional side view of a phonograph showing the present invention as applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a sectional viewvtaken through the line 2-2 of Fig. l, showing the separable electrical connection between the translating unit and the carriage proper.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the carriage with the translating unit mounted thereon and with a portion of the cover removed.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the carriage showing it without the translating unit attached thereto.

Fig. 5 is aside viewof the carriage shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a View similar to Fig. 1, but showing a reproducing mechanism, whileF ig. l shows'a recording mechanism.

Fig. 7 is a view looking down on the carriage and translating unit shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a side view similar to Fig. 1, showino a modified form of the present invention.

ig. 9 is a similar view of another modified form of the present invention.

The phonograph shown in the accompanyingdrawings comprises a base 10 having at one side an upright 11 in which is supported a mandrel 12 for a phonograph record 13 which is rotated so that a helical groove will be traced on the record surface due to the rotation of the record 13 and the movement of a recording stylus 14 longitudinally of the record. The Irecording stylus is usually mounted in a sound-box whichin turn is' mounted on a sound-box carriage. The sound-box carriage is fed across the frame 10 by means of a feed-screw 15.

Heretofore, the sound-box carriage had no other function than to move the sound-box longitudinally of the record. However, according to the present invention, as stated above, the sound-box Carriage illustrated is formed of magnetizable material such as iron.

Accordingly, the sound-box carriage 16 of the present invention comprises a block 17 formed in U or horseshoe shape, and in addition is preferably curved as seen from the side, Fig. 1, so that its lower rearward end will be adjacent a guide rod 17a while its upper end will lie near the top portion of the record 13. At its rear end or bridge 18, the block 17 is provided with guide arms 19 of brass or other suitable non-magnetic material which is forked at its rear end to embrace the guide rod 17a, while at its intermediate portion justin front of the bridge 18, the block 17 is provided with an insert 20 of brass or other suitable non-magnetic material which at its front end is provided with a sleeve 21 embracing a guide rod 22. It is upon the guide rods 17a and 22 that the carriage slides to and fro over the phonograph record.

' The insert- 2O also supports a feed nut 23 which engages the feed screw '15 and causes the carriage to travel when the feed screw is rotated. When it is desired to move the carriage by hand, the operator raises the usual carriagerelease lever 23a, so that an arm 24 on the rear portion of the lever engages Van arm 25 on the feed nut and raises the feed nut from the feed screwagainst the tension of a spring 26. The brass insert 20 and the brass guide arms 19 prevent magnetic iuX in the carriage from passing to the baseA 10 through the guide rods'.

At its forward and upward ends the block 17 is provided with poles 27 upon which the translating unit, be it a recorder or reproduccr, is mounted. The polepieces of the translating unit may, of course, be formed integral with the poles 27, or they may be otherwise provided thereon, so as to be inseparable. However, the present invention so mounts the pole-pieces on the poles 27 that they may be removed, and also mounts all of the operating parts of the translating unit upon the pole-pieces so that the translating device, as a unit, may be attached to and removed from the carriage.

Referring now to the translating unit per se, it will be noted that an armature 28 is located between a pair of pole-pieces 29 and 30, providing spaced poles 31 and 31 which are of opposite polarity. The pole-pieces 29 and are tied together by angle members 32 of brass or other suitable non-magnetic material by means of screws 33-to form a blocklike structure in which the adjacent poles 31, 31a and armature 28 are centrally located. The armature 28 is mounted in operative position in the structure by means of a iiexible spring 34 secured to angle members 32 by screws 34', and this spring 34, by twisting, permits the armature 28 to vibrate between the adjacent poles 31, 31a. Surrounding the armature, but out of contact therewith and 'locked in the structure by the angle members 32 are a pair of wire coils 35 connected in series, and provided with leads 36 and 37. In operation, voice orjiiuctuating currents, passing through 'the translating unit by way of leads 36 and 37, iow around the armature 28 and magnetize the same, so that it will be attracted to or repelled from the pole-pieces 31 and thus vibrate in accordance with variations of the voice or pulsating'current. Vhen the device is used as a reproducer, vibration of the armature 28 generates a current in the coils 35 which passes out of the device through leads 36 and 37.

One end of the armature 28 is connected by a wire 38 to a stylus lever 39 carrying the stylus 14. The stylus lever 39 is pivoted at 40 on a weighted arm 41 which in turn is pivoted at 42 to a bracket plate 43 secured to an angle member 32 of the block-like structure of the translating unit. If desired, a spring 45 may be connected to the weighted arm 41 to increase the tendenc of the latter to closely follow the surface ofy the record. Also, a guide 46 may be provided to limit the extent of upand-down movement of the Weighted arm 41. The arrangement described is such that when the block-like structure is removed from t-he carriage 17, the bracket plate 43 with the stylus lever and Weighted arm will be removed as a unit with the block-like structure.

The armature 28, ybeing connected to the stylus lever 39 by the wire 38, Vibrates in unison with the stylus lever, and hence in recording, it vibrates the recording stylus 14 to record upon the record. In reproducing, the

. reproducing stylus operates the armature through the link 38.

When the block-like translating unit isl mounted on the carriage, the pole-pieces 29 and 30 of the translating unit are brought into. engagement with the poles 27 of the carriage and are held in position .by means ofscrews 47 passing through holes in the poles 29 and 30 and threaded in the poles 27 of the carriage block 17. .When this is done, the unit is in position for operation.

Preferably, the entire unit is enclosed by a casing 48 which fits over it andl which is secured thereto by means of a screw 49 which is threaded in an arm 50 forming part of the bracket plate 43. The casing 48 preferably is brought forwardly and downwardly over the scale bar 51 of t-he phonograph and is there provided with a pointer 52 which indicates the position of the carriage longitudinally of the record.

When it is desired to remove the translating unit from the carriage, the screw 49 is removed to permit removal of the casing 48 which will expose the screws 47. The latter are then removed and the translating unit is then lifted directly off the pole-pieces 27 of:

the carriage.

In recording, it is extremely desirable that the armature and/or stylus carriage be damped so that the vibrations of either of these, or both, may be more in accord with the vibrations produced at the origin of the sound. For this purpose, the present invention provides an adjustable damping means for the train of connections including the ai'- mature and stylus carrier.

This damping means, in the form illustrated in Fig. 1, comprises a relatively light helical spring 53 attached at one end to the end of the armature 28 which is connected to the wire 38 and at the other end to a screw 54 having a manually adjustable nut 55 in engagement with a 1ug56 extending outwardly from one of the angular pieces 32. v The ar. rangement is such that when the nut `55 is adjusted, the screw 54 is moved therebyv changing the tension of the spring 53 and the damping effects of the spring upon the vibratory system including the armature and stylus holder. By having this damping .for each function.

A reproducing translating unit, made 1nA accordance with the present invention, is disclosed in Fig. 6, and in this form the important characteristics of the recording translating unit illustrated in F ig.' 1 have been retained. For instance, the translating unit vas a whole is removable from the carriage Iand the carriage is the same structurally as that shown in Fig. 1, the description in connection with which applies equally well to this form.

The principal differences between the recording unit shown in Fig. 1 and the reproducing unit shown in Fig. 6 are in the train of connections between the armature 28 and the stylus carrier 39, of the weighted arm 41.

In connection with the weighted arm 41 shown in Fig. 6, this is mounted in a bracket 57 which in turn is mounted in another bracket 58 being pivoted for movement in a carrying plate 59 about an axis extending at right angles to the axis of movement of the weighted arm 4l on the bracket-.57. This per-V mits the weighted arm 41 to have free lateral movement in reproducing as well as vertical movement, as is common practice in the phonograph art. The lateral movement may be limited by the guide 61 cooperating with a pin 6 2 in the weighted arm 41.

With regard to the connection between the armature 28 and the reproducing stylus carrier 39 in the reproducing unit shown in Fig. 6, a wire 63 from the armature 28 is connected toI one end of an intermediate lever 64 which is resiliently mounted at its otherend at 65.

This lever 64 is connected midway between its mounting and the point at the end at which the wire 63 engages it, with a wire 66 connectedto the stylus lever 39. Hence, when the stylus lever 39 is vibrated by engagement with the undulating surface of the record,

the wire 66 vibrates the intermediate lever- 64 and this transmits the vibrations to the wire 63 to the armature 28, the latter, vibrating in a magnetic field, produces a magneto-electric current in coils 535. Since the wire 63 is located-at a greater distance from the mounting pointy of the resiliently mounted intermediate lever 64 than the actuating wire 66, the amplitude of vibrations of the armature 28 will be greater than it would be if the wire 63 were connected directly to the stylus carrier 39 as in the case With the recordand in the. mounting ing device. The amplitude of vibration of the armature, when connected in this manner to the stylus lever, is such that the magnetoelectric currents generated in the coils 35 are suticient to be audibly detected by a set of ordinary telephone receivers without the use of batteries or amplifying means.

The supporting plate 59 is secured to the block-like translating unit by screws in the same manner as the supporting plate 43 is secured to the block-like translating unit in the form shown in Fig. 1. 1n the form shown in Fig.`6, the supporting plate 59 itself is provided with apointer 67 for cooperation with the scale 5l.

ln order that the translating unit, both in the case of the recording unit shown in Fig. l and the reproducing unit shown in Fig. 6, may be easily and quickly detached from the carriage without disconnecting any wires and yet so that the leading-in wires for the unit may be carried by the carriage, the blockshaped translating unit is provided with a pair of posts or plugs 68 mounted on a iiber block 69 secured to the pole-piece 30, the plugs being separately connected to the wires f 36 and 37 leading from the coils 35. Opposite the plugs (58, on one of the poles.27 of the carriage block 17, is mounted a pair of springclips with which the plugs 68 engage. These clips 70 are mounted on an insulating block 71 secured to one of the poles 27, see Figs. 3, 4 and 5, and are each separately connected to one of the lead-in wires 72 and 73. Thus, when the translating unit is in position on the carriage, the circuit, including the wires 72 and 73, is closed through the 'plugs 68 and the coils of the translating unit. When, however, the translating unit is removed from the block 17 of the carriage, the plugs 68 are withdrawn 'from the springclips 70, the circuit is automatically opened and the entire unit may be removed from the carriage without unfastening or disconnecting any wires.

The wires 72 and 73, accordingto the present invention, are not permitted to dangle in front of the machine where there is danger of their Oetting caught by mechanism mounted thereon, but they are conveyed downwardly and backwardly over the rear end of the b'ase 10 of the phonograph. T his is done by providing a conduit 74 into which the wires extend at the upper portion of the carriage and which is curved downwardly and backwardly following substantially the contour of the carriage and having an elbow 75 kextending over the back end of the base 10 from the orilice of which the wires 72 and 73 lead down to some point of the machine where they are attached. The conduit 74 is preferably fastened to the block 17 of the carriage by means of clamps 76, see Figs. 2 and 3.

rlhe present invention also provides means for electrically producing magnetic iux in the magnet block 17 of the carriage, so that if desired, the magnetic field across the poles 27 may be greater than that which is possible by merely having the block 17 permanently magnetized, and so that soft iron or other temporarily magnetized material might be used instead of more expensive material necessary for a satisfactory permanent magnet. Accordingly, the present invention, in the form shown in Fig. 8, provides a pair of energizing coils 77 on the legs of the block 17 of the carriagc.- These energizing coils 77 are provided with a pair of wires 78 and 79 leading down through the conduit 74 over the back of the machine where they are connected to a separate source of direct current, so that they will always cause the magnetic block 17 to be magnetized so long as current is flowing through them.

The provision of the electromagnetic field on the block 17 in no way alters the functioning of the other parts which are exactly the saine as that shown in Fig. 1, yet, by the provision of these coils, a very strong electromagnetic iield may be provided with im proved results.

The present invention, as stated above, also embraces the idea of having the armature and stylus carrier and related parts removable relatively to the pole-pieces. A device made in accordance with this idea is shown in Fig. 9, in which the block 17 is provided with polepieces 80 on each of which is placed a coil 81. T he weighted lever 82 of the stylus lever 39 is pivoted on a bracket 83 which is located between the legs of the block 17 and which has a transverse piece 84 secured to the ends of the legs 17 by means of screws 85. At the upper end of the transverse piece 84, there is pivoted an armature 86 extending downwardly and forwardly and having a pair of wings 87 overlying the poles 80 on the block 17. The armature 8G is provided with an eX- tension 88 to which the wire 89 leading to the stylus carrier 39 is connected. The vibratory system is damped by a spring 90 located on a rearward extension 91 of the armature and connected to an adjustable screw 92 mounted in a lug 93 on the rear and upward side of the transverse piece 84, the damping operation being the same in this form as that shown in Figs. 1 and 6.

When the voice currents pass through the coils 81, the wings 87 of the armature 86 are attracted or repelled, and through the Wire 89 the stylus carrier 39 is operated.

To remove the operating part from the carriage, it is merely necessary to remove the screws and raise the bracket 83 and transverse piece 84 from the block 17, the bracket 83 being so positioned and shaped as to pass upwardly between the coils 81 Without interference therefrom.

Variations and modifications may be made Within the scope of this invention and portions of the improvements may be used Without others.

Having now described the invention, what is claimed as new and for which itis desired to obtain Letters Patent is 1. In a phonograph, in combination, a frame, a carriage mountedvformovement with respect to said frame, a record mounted onV said frame, means for moving said carriage relative to said record, and electro-magnetic record-engaging means mounted on said carriage and movable relatively to said carriage, said carriage being formed of magnetic material andforming with said record-engaging means a magnetic circuit.

2. In a phonograph, a'frame; a carriage mounted for movement with respect to said frame; and electromagnetic record-engaging means mounted on said carriage, the major portion of said carriage comprising as an essential art a block of magnetic material in magnetlc circuit with said record-engaging means, and non-magnetic mounting means for said carriage.

3. In a phonograph, a frame; a carriage mounted for movement With respect to said frame; electromagnetic record-engaging means mounted on said carriage, said carriage being formed of material through which magnetic flux may HOW and beingin magnetic circuit with said electromagnetic record-engaging means,.and non-magnetic mounting means for the carriage. A

4. In a phonograph, a frame; a carriage mounted for movement With respect to said frame; electric record-engaging means mounted on said carriage, said carriage being formed of magnetic material; magnet poles on said carriage; and magnet poles on said record-engagingV means. in magnetic Contact with the magnet poles on the carriage.

yce

5. In a phonograph, a frame; va carriage mounted for movement on the frame and having thereon a mass of magnetic material; and electrical record-engaging means removably mounted on said carriage and comprising an armature and pole-pieces adapted to Contact With said magnetic material.

6. In a phonograph, `a frame; a carriage mounted for movement on the frame and having thereon a mass of magnetic material; and electrical record-engaging means removably mounted on said carriage and comprising an armature, a stylus carrier, connections between the armature and stylus carrier, and pole-pieces adapted to contact with said magnetic material on the carriage.

7. A translating unit for electrically .recording phonographs comprising pole-pieces, an armature, a stylus lever, and means connecting the armature and stylus lever together; and a carriage comprising a .magnet having pole-pieces;4 said unit being adapted td be placed upon and removed from said carriage, the pole-pieces on the unit engaging' mounted for movement with respect to said frame Vand insulated magnetically from said frame, electrical record-engaging means mounted on said carriage, said carriage being formed of a material through which magnetic flux may iow to said electrical recordengaging means, and means for producing said magnetic iiux.

11. In a phonograph, a Iframe; a carriage mounted for movement with respect to said frame; electric record-engaging means mounted on said carriage, said carriage being formed of magnetic material;'magnet poles on said carriage; magnet poles on said record-engagingY means in magnetic y contact Withthe magneticpoles on the carriage; and means on said carriage for causing magnetic flux to flow in said magnetic material.

12. In a phonograph, a frame; a carriage mounted for movement With respect to said frame; electric record-engaging means mounted on said carriage, said carriage being formed of magnetic'material; magnet poles on said carriage; magnet poles on said record-engaging means in magnetic contact with the magnetic poles on the carriage; means on said carriage for causing magnetic flux to flow in said magnetic material; anda coil mounted in said record-engaging means.

13. In a phonograph, a frame; a carriage mounted for movement with respect to said frame; electric record-engaging means mounted on said carriage, said carriage being formed of magnetic material; pole-pieces on said carriage; pole-pieces on said recordengaging means in magnetic contact With the magnetic poles on the carriage; an armature `forming part of said record-engaging means, the pole-pieces being in operative relation to said armature; a coil on said record-engaging means Vin operative relation to said armature; a stylus lever operatively connected to'said armature; and means on the carriage for causing magnetic tluX to iiow in said magnetic material thereof.

14. In a phonograph, a frame; a carriage mounted for movement With respect to said frame; record-engaging means mounted on said carriage, said carriage being formed of magnetic material; magnet poles on said carriage; magnet poles on said record-engaging means 1n magnetic contact with the magnet poles on the carriage, said record-engag- Y carriage; and a plug connection having one part mounted on the carriage and connected to said current supply wires and the other part mounted on the electric record-engaging means and connected to said Wires leading from the electric record-engaging means, said plug being separable and being automatically connected when the electric recordengaging means is mounted on the carrier.

16. In a phonograph, a frame; a carriage mounted on the frame for movement with respect to the frame; electric record-engaging means removably mounted on the carriage and having Wires leading therefrom; current supply Wires mounted on the carriage; a'nd a plug connection having one part connected to said current supply wires and the other part connected to said Wires leading from the electric record-engaging means, said plug having the first-named part mounted on the carriage and the second-named part mounted on the recordengaging means, said parts being in alignment when the record-engaging means is mounted on the carriage, and the parts of said plug being separable so that the parts connected to the record-engaging means may be removed with the record-engaging means when the recordengaging means is removed from the carriage.

Signed at Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield, and State of Connecticut, this 17 th day of September, 1926.

ARTHUR A. JOHNSON.

CERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1, 771, 087.

Granted July 22, 1930, n)

ARTHUR A. JOHNSON.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the .printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5, lines 19 and 20, claim 2, strike out the words "the major portion of" and insert same before the word "said" second occurrence in line 28," claim 3; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 9th day of September, A. D. 1930.

M. J. Moore, Acting Commissioner of Patents.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

latent No. 1,771,087. Granted July 22, 1930, to

ARTHUR A. JOHNSON.

t error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5, lines 19 and 20, claim 2, strike out the words l"the major portion of andv insert same before the word "said" second occurrence in line 28, claim 3; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 9th day of September, A. D. 1930.

It is hereby certified tha M. J. Moore, Acting Commissioner of Patents.

(Seal) 

